12 weeks- too old to start swaddling??

[izpie]

Nights are getting worse with my dd, she's waking frequently and taking ages to settle. So last night she woke at 2, didn't settle again until 3, up at 4.15 and took til 5 to settle. I feed to sleep and she usually falls asleep within 10 mins, transfer to cot no problem then a couple of minutes later wakes herself by shaking head and flailing arms & legs - repeat feed, sleep, transfer, flailing, awake until I can cope no longer, I end up holding her arms & legs down until she passes into more settled sleep. This has been going on for a week, previously she would transfer and resettle easily.

So am thinking of swaddling, I did swaddle for the first week she was born but she really fought it so ended up swaddling legs only and leaving arms free, then I moved her into a grobag a month or so ago.

So too late to try again, and do you think it'll help anyway?

Thanks

Not wanting to add to your stress but my 18 week EBF dd has also started doing this. I am the same with feeding to sleep and am very tired. I too would be interested in the responses to this.

Thanks for letting me know I'm not alone Dolby. Just so you know I tried swaddling dd last night, it did feel a bit wrong, like I was sticking her in a straightjacket - but it did improve our night a bit. I swaddled and fed her when I went to bed (9.15), she woke at 12.45, fed, re-swaddled as she'd kicked her way out, and she went straight back down until 3.05, repeat feed and re-swaddle, down until 5.35 - cue awake 3 year old. Ok so it's still not great but slightly longer sleep periods and not having to spend an hour re-settling her was amazing.

She did have really rubbish naps yesterday so was totally knackered, might have been that rather than the swaddle that meant she went straight back down, will keep trying and see how it goes.

Still appreciate comments from anyone on beginning to swaddle at this stage....

i started swaddling dd1 late - maybe 10 weeks or so. she was still swaddled until 6mo. I guess you can but try!

You can but try.. When bf you are holding them close and they feel secure , so maybe the swaddling might help her to feel a bit more secure when you are not there.

Dont let here sleep more than she is meant to for her age during the day, and keep the day lively so she is clearly defining night time and quiet time, from noisy daytime.

Good luck !

Not at all, whatever works is my opinion.

However you may find the frequent wakings are down to the 3 month growth spurt and/or 4 month developmental spurt. If either of these 'this too shall pass' (in about a couple of weeks.

Hang in there!

Not at all, whatever works is my opinion.

However you may find the frequent wakings are down to the 3 month growth spurt and/or 4 month developmental spurt. If either of these 'this too shall pass' (in about a couple of weeks.

Hang in there!